Page 70 - KHovanian Homes - Pathway to Homeownership

Section 9 | Home Care & Maintenance INSULATION Insulation is placed wherever outside air is likely to seep into the home: in the floors, ceilings, foundation walls, above-ground exterior walls, and the attic. Flexible insulation in the form of fiberglass blankets is commonly used in walls, floors, ceilings, and around ducts. Blown insulation of loose fiberglass can be used in flat ceiling areas. Plastic foam may be used for spot insulation around windows and doors, pipe openings, and other air leakage points. R-Value: This is an insulation measurement. The higher a material’s “R-value” number the more effective it is as an insulator. Different parts of the home have different insulation standards and we meet or exceed both local and national code requirements. PAINTING - INTERIOR The interior of your home has been painted with latex paint. Prior to closing, you will receive a touch-up paint kit for your interior doors, walls, ceilings, and trim. Take a moment to review the kit and familiarize yourself with the different paints that are included. Maintenance Guidelines • Cleaning Flat Latex Painted Surfaces: Flat latex paint is applied to the interior walls of the home. This is not a scrubbable paint and will smudge if cleaned. We do not recommend washing these surfaces, but instead suggest using the supplied touch-up paint to cover paint scuff and marks. • Cleaning Semi-Gloss Latex Painted Surfaces: Semi-gloss latex paint is applied to interior wood trim and doors. These surfaces may be cleaned with a sponge and lukewarm water. The less moisture on the sponge, the better. Wipe quickly with a gentle washing pressure from top to bottom without allowing the solution to run down the door or trim. If the water does not work try the same procedure using a small amount of mild detergent mixed with water. Once complete, lightly rinse the washed area with plain water and allow it to dry. • Your selection sheets and paint touch up kit are your record of the paint, stain color names, numbers, and brands in your home. PLANT SHELVES AND DECORATIVE NICHES Interior plant shelves, or “niches,” are a decorative feature that may be in your home. Unless specified, these are for decoration only and will not support any significant weight. Heavy objects can cause cracks in the drywall and more severe damage. Please remember this when deciding what to put in these areas. PLUMBING - GENERAL INFORMATION A licensed Plumbing Contractor installed all plumbing lines and systems in your home, and these have been tested and inspected. In most cases, minimum homeowner maintenance is all that the plumbing system requires. Attending to small problems as they occur keeps them from becoming larger, more costly ones. During the first 30 days that you are in your home we will fix any blockages from construction materials that fell into your system. After that, you will need to call a professional plumber for any blockages. PLUMBING - WATER LINES The pipes that carry water into the home are designed to resist rust and corrosion. Water pressure may be unusually high in your locality. In such a case, a water pressure regulator is installed at the main shut-off valve. Do not attempt to adjust the water pressure regulator yourself. It is designed to keep water line pressure surges from entering the home, and improper adjustment can burst the water lines and create severe water damage. If you feel the water pressure needs adjustment, please contact the water utility company or a licensed plumbing contractor. Noisy Pipes: Exterior hose faucets often produce a high-pitched noise caused by an attached vacuum breaker or back-flow preventer. The noise is normal and is not cause for concern. It is normal to hear water running through pipes in the house. Noisy pipe problems can be identified and corrected as follows: • The water heater temperature may be set too high, 52 | Edition July 2019